Process and apparatus for packaging flat articles

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a process for packaging flat, stacked articles  2,  in particular envelopes, packaging bags and the like, it being the case that first of all the flat articles  2  coming from a production machine  1  are stacked and then at least partially packaged in a packaging station  6,  using at least one packaging blank  5,  and are subsequently transported further and discharged from the packaging station  6.    
     The essence of the invention is that the stacked articles  2  and the packaging blanks  5,  in order to reach the packaging station  6,  first of all are moved towards one another in a state in which they are offset parallel to one another, in that the stack  3  comprising articles  2,  in order to reach the packaging station  6,  is then moved transversely to the original transporting direction  4  of the articles  2  and, in the packaging station  6,  is set down in the packaging blank  5,  in that the stack  3  is then packaged in a packaging blank  5  in two processing positions  7,8  of the packaging station  6,  whereupon said stack, in the form of pack  10,  is discharged from the packaging station  6  transversely to the original transporting direction  4  of the articles  2,  and in that the next packaging blank  5  in each case is fed to the first processing position  7  of the packaging station  6  over the pack  10,  containing the packaged articles  2,  and/or the over the second processing position  8.

DESCRIPTION

[0001] The invention relates to a process and an apparatus for packagingflat, stacked articles, in particular envelopes, packaging bags and thelike, it being the case that first of all the flat articles coming froma production machine are stacked and then at least partially packaged ina packaging station, using packaging blanks, and subsequently aretransported further and discharged from the packaging station.

[0002] A process and apparatus of the abovementioned type are known inprinciple and are used for packaging envelopes and the like. Thisoperation usually takes place satisfactorily, but the object of theinvention is both to increase the number of articles which can bepackaged per unit of time and to achieve this with a process and anapparatus which take up as little space as possible.

[0003] This object on which the invention is based is achievedrespectively by the features of the characterizing part of Patent Claims1 and 4.

[0004] In concrete terms, the invention provides that, on their way tothe packaging station, the articles, in the form of stacks, and thepackaging blanks first of all are moved towards one another in a statein which they are offset parallel to one another, that the flatarticles, in order to reach the packaging station, are then transportedtransversely to their original transporting direction and then are setdown on a packaging blank. Subsequently, the stacked articles arepackaged in the packaging blank at two processing positions of thepackaging station in order to form a pack, whereupon the pack isdischarged from the packaging station transversely to the originaltransporting direction of the article. The next packaging blank in eachcase is basically fed to the first processing position of the packagingstation over the pack, containing the packaged articles, and/or over thesecond processing position.

[0005] The use of two processing positions in the packaging stationresults in an increase in the number of articles which can be packagedper unit of time. The next stack in each case can be set down on apackaging blank even when the preceding stack is not yet fully packagedinto its pack form.

[0006] The operation of supplying the packaging station with newpackaging blanks in each case takes place over the second processingposition and/or over the last-completed pack. This renders possible aparticularly space-saving arrangement of the various components of theapparatus.

[0007] The invention is described in more detail hereinbelow withreference to an exemplary embodiment which is illustrated in thedrawing, in which:

[0008]FIG. 1 shows a basic sketch of the process, and

[0009]FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the apparatus.

[0010] The articles 2 such as envelopes and the like coming, forexample, individually from a production machine 1 are first of allstacked and then, in the form of stacks 3, moved transversely to theiroriginal transporting direction 4 and set down on a packaging blank 5 ina packaging station 6. The packaging station 6 has two processingpositions 7 and 8, it being the case that, in the first processingposition 7, the stack 3 is partially packaged in the packaging blank 5and, in the second processing position 8, said stack is fully packagedinto the form of pack 10 for example by a cover part 9 being placed inposition and closed. Said pack 10 is then, in turn, discharged from thepackaging station 6 transversely to the original transporting direction4, in the direction of the arrow 11 in FIG. 1, and leaves the apparatus12, for example, via a roller conveyor 13.

[0011] As can be seen, in particular, from the basic sketch of FIG. 1,there is located in the apparatus 12 a stack 14 which comprisespackaging blanks 5 and of which the respectively uppermost packagingblank 5 has to be fed to the processing position 7 of the packagingstation 6. This takes place along the arrow 15.

[0012] The stack 14 is raised, if appropriate, in its entirety,whereupon the respectively uppermost packaging blank 5 is transported tothe processing position 7 over the processing position 8 and/or over apack 10 located there, and lowered there onto an underlying surface. Inthe processing position 7, the packaging blank 5 assumes a position inwhich the stack 3, comprising articles 2, can be pushed onto it or setdown on it. FIG. 1 shows the packaging blank 5 in a position in which italready partially encloses the stack 3.

[0013] In the processing position 7, the stack 3 is not just placed in aprecisely positioned manner on the base of the packaging blank 5; it isalso the case here that the side flaps of the packaging blank 5 arefolded against the stack 3 and fixed. In the position 7, the package isthus completed apart from the cover.

[0014] From the processing position 7, the partially packaged stack 3 isthen displaced into the processing position 8 and there, or on the waythere, the cover part 9 is moved into the closed position. It is alsoexpediently fixed there. Finally, the packaged stack 3, in the form ofpack 10, is discharged from the second processing position 8 of thepackaging station 6.

[0015] It is first of all the case that the blanks 5 and the articles 2move basically towards one another in a state in which they are offsetparallel to one another. In this case, the blanks 5 are first of allraised from an initial stack height, then moved horizontally, over theprocessing position 8, to above the processing position 7 and lowedthere to the level of the stack 3. The partially packaged stack 3 movesfrom the processing position 7 into the processing position 8 parallelto the movement direction of the packaging blanks 5, which are fed tothe processing position 7 horizontally above the processing position 8.The completed pack 10 is discharged from the packaging station 6transversely to the movement direction of the not yet completed packmoving into the processing position 8 from the processing position 7.

1. Process for packaging flat, stacked articles (2), in particularenvelopes, packaging bags and the like, it being the case that first ofall the flat articles (2) coming from a production machine (1) arestacked and then at least partially packaged in a packaging station (6),using at least one packaging blank (5), and are subsequently transportedfurther and discharged from the packaging station (6), it being the casethat a) the stacked articles (2) and the packaging blanks (5), in orderto reach the packaging station (6), b) first of all are moved towardsone another in a state in which they are offset parallel to one another,c) it being the case that stacks (3) comprising articles (2), in orderto reach the packaging station (6), are moved transversely to theoriginal transporting direction (4) of the articles (2) and, in thepackaging station (6), are set down on a packaging blank (5), d) itbeing the case that the stack (3) is packaged in the packaging blank (5)in two processing positions (7,8) of the packaging station (6), e) itbeing the case that said stack, in the form of pack (10), is dischargedfrom the packaging station (6) transversely to the original transportingdirection (4) of the articles (2), and f) it being the case that thenext packaging blank (5) in each case is fed to the first processingposition (7) of the packaging station (6) over the pack (10), containingthe packaged articles (2), and/or over the second processing position(8).
 2. Process according to claim 1 , characterized in that, in thefirst processing position (7), the stack (3) is partially packaged inthe packaging blank (5), in that the side flaps are folded against thestack (3) and fixed.
 3. Process according to claim 1 , characterized inthat, in the second processing position (8), at least part of thepackaging blank (5) which serves as cover part (9) is moved into theclosed position on the not yet completed pack (10) and, if appropriate,fixed.
 4. Apparatus for packaging flat, stacked articles (2), inparticular envelopes, packaging bags and the like, it being the casethat first of all the flat articles (2) coming from a production machine(1) can be stacked and then packaged in packaging blanks (5) in apackaging station (6) and subsequently can be transported further anddischarged from the packaging station (6), characterized a) in that theflat articles (2) and the packaging blanks (5), in order to reach thepackaging station (6), b) first of all can be moved towards one anotherin an offset manner, c) in that the flat articles (2), in the form ofstacks (3), can be transported into the packaging station (6)transversely to their original transporting direction (4) and set downon a packaging blank (5), d) in that the stack (3) can then be packagedin at least one packaging blank (5) there, in the packaging station (6),at two processing positions (7,8), e) in that said stack, in the form ofpack (10), can be discharged from the packaging station (6) transverselyto the original transporting direction (4) of the flat articles (2), andf) in that the next packaging blank (5) in each case can be transportedto the first processing position (7) over the pack (10) with thepackaged articles (2) and/or over the second processing position (8) ofthe packaging station (6).